Another downtown Kelowna condo project receives a green light

Mission Group announced today that it has received final approvals from Kelowna citycouncil on its newest project located in downtown Kelowna on Ellis Street and Lawrence Avenue.

With final approvals Mission Group is preparing its construction plan for ELLA and will be opening its sales center this fall.

ELLA’s approvals come at a time as condominium sales continue to rise in the Okanagan. According to the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board. In June 2017, there were 261 condo apartment sales, a 10 per cent increase from 237 sales in June 2016.

“This is a proud moment for us,” said Jonathan Friesen, CEO, Mission Group, in a press release.

“ELLA has it all: every home will have a view, its contemporary concrete design features innovative living spaces, a greened roof terrace and its located in the highly desirable Bernard District.”

ELLA, features 116 condominiums within a 20-storey high-rise concrete building. Mission Group plans to open its Presentation Centre and begin sales this fall. Construction on the building itself is expected to begin in early 2018.

According to Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census, fewer Canadians are occupying single detached homes and the demand for multi-family homes is on the rise. The decline is especially prominent in British Columbia where the number of single-family homes fell to 44 per cent in 2016 from 60 per cent in the 1980s.

ELLA’s distinctive draw is its highly central location in the Bernard District. ELLA is within close walking distance to a broad range of goods and services.

Bernard Avenue’s $13 million revitalization, has transformed the area into a vibrant destination with trend setting local cuisine, creative social houses, boutiques, culture and entertainment destinations. ELLA will add to this with the retail outlets it will provide at street level.

ELLA also has a Walk Score of 97 out of 100 and is within walking distance of the new Kelowna Yacht Club and the recreational City Park, waterfront boardwalk and Okanagan Lake. The city’s Queensway Transit Exchange is located within short walking distance, offering convenient transit options to the rest of Kelowna.

ELLA is targeting LEED-Certified construction, which would be a first in Kelowna for market concrete condominiums. The construction follows Mission Group’s “Inspired Green” approach, which aims to lessen environmental footprint in five areas – energy, water, air quality, recycling and climate change.